Disease runs rampant among us. People fall ill. Worst cases transported to hospital emergency facilities. Pandemic cases separated from other medical emergencies to stem transmission of the virus. People die. People survive but often without clear expectations of happy circumstance. Some patients are scarred with aftereffects. Some patients are weakened for the remainder of their lives.
Family members await news of their loved ones’ fate. They are afraid. The patient is afraid. We are afraid, for them and ourselves.
Fear. Of the unknown. Fear. Of change uncontrolled by us. Raw fear. So raw it has an odor.
During times of fear we take precautions. We protect ourselves and our families. Our homes. Our way of life. During the current pandemic, many have lost their jobs. When normal resumes – by whatever standard or definition – the jobs we left may not be there. Jobs may change their function and shape. We may be OK or not. We do not know. That is another fear.
We wait impatiently for life to restart. College studies to resume. High school classes and degree work to come back to life. Shopping for needed goods and some only for pleasure. We ache for the freedom to be ourselves once again. All of that is in doubt. We are not in control of it. We fear the unknown of it.
America has faced fear before. World wars. Pandemics. Huge recessions and bone crushing depressions. Over and over again history tells her story of our people making do while conditions were awful and fearful. Sacrifices were made then. We do the same today. Only now we have larger homes, greater comforts, more entertainment options, amazing technology, and the ability to walk outdoors with a mask to get exercise. While out, we can wave to friends and neighbors, just no hugging. Or touching.
We have time this time around. Time to think and collect thoughts. Time to establish a new definition and understanding of self. Of future hopes and dreams. Of talents to hone or acquire. To erect a framework to follow to make the future happen our way. We are not alone in this. Our ancestors did this. We can do this. Only now we have more resources to help. More connections to the universe. Technology.
What have I done with my life up to this day? What would I like to accomplish with the remainder of it? How do I wish to live? What are the points that define quality of life? What is no longer important to retain? What is vital and what is not? How will this shape how I live in the time left to me?
My career may be different. The focus of my work may be different. The products and services I will deal with will be different. The markets in which my work is used will be different. How we transact business, learning, and social interaction will be different.
In all of this differentness, how do we retain what is truly important to us?
We will not know the answer to that question without some serious thinking. Quiet, purposeful, private thinking. Focused on me. Focused on setting. Focused on the needs of others. The new reality waiting to be birthed.
Will my part in this be successful? Yours? No one knows. But we will come to know it with the passing of time.
Meanwhile, there is fear to live with. But as always, it will yield to opportunity. Will we be ready for that? Will we celebrate the potential?
May 17, 2020
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